OutOfKimchee '22–'23 app cycle Class of 2026 class year

Came in with a strong sense that Berkeley was far and away my top choice based on fields of interest, local connection/family nearby, and the school’s overall reputation. Applying binding ED was an easy choice, particularly with the guaranteed scholarship.

When my August LSAT score came back, I wrestled with whether to re-take, knowing I was capable of a higher score. However, my gains would be only marginal since I needed to apply by November for early decision, and studying to re-take would eat time away that could be devoted to essays. Ultimately I am very happy I didn’t re-take. I tend to think that a 1 or 2 point higher LSAT score (moving from already slightly above Berkeley’s median to 75th percentile) but poorer essays would have worsened my chances at being accepted early decision.

So, coming to terms with my LSAT score, I took my time on those essays, knowing BED for Berkeley is generally more competitive than the regular decision pool and being at median for GPA/just above median for LSAT. I write professionally but I still had multiple rounds of edits and feedback from family, friends, and colleagues - these made my personal statement, diversity statement, and Why Berkeley essays LOADS better. My personal statement for Berkeley was 4 pages, and it was the foundation for the personal statement I submitted to each other school, with tweaks as needed to personalize. For most other schools which limited the PS to 2 pages, I pared down the Berkeley version rather than starting with a 2 page statement and stretching it to 4.

My personal statement focused on how my professional experience to date has informed my decision to pursue law, and the ways in which it has shaped me as a thinker and communicator that strengthen my promise as an aspiring lawyer. Diversity statement was about religion and ideological diversity - developing empathy and curiosity for worldviews that differ from my own.

Managed to get that one A I most wanted before being waitlisted or rejected anywhere, so… I count that as 100% success rate! There’s very little chance I was getting in to the higher ranked schools on my list, but I decided to shoot my shot since BED at Berkeley was far from a sure thing. (When I sent Stanford my notification of withdrawal at 10PM the day I was accepted at Berkeley, Stanford admissions responded within 10 minutes - despite the time of night - with a polite “don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”)

Random additional context for the dates in my trackers:

Interview w/ GULC on 11/4; Dean Cornblatt said to expect a decision within 2 weeks after Thanksgiving (possibly before)

GULC date change 11/4 (after interview that day - likely Dean Cornblatt inputting interview notes)

Another GULC date change 11/7 for no discernable reason

Interview with Lewis & Clark 11/10; told decisions begin being communicated mid-late December. Status date change (“Application File Complete”) on 11/14